Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of &agr;-human atrial natriuretic polypeptide by recombinant DNA technology.

Abstract: DNA fragments which contain a sequence of DNA which encodes a protective peptide-fused &agr;-hANP in which the protective peptide has a C-terminus lysine residue which is directly fused to the N-terminus of the &agr;-hANP, vectors which contain such a DNA sequence, and microorganisms transformed which such a vector are useful for the production of &agr;-hANP.

Abstract: A novel L-sorbose dehydrogenase (SDH) and a novel L-sorbosone dehydrogenase both derived from Gluconobacter oxydans T-100, a DNA which encodes the SDH and/or SNDH, an expression vector which contains the DNA, a host cell transformed by the expression vector and a process for producing the SDH and/or SNDH, which comprises culturing the host cell in a medium and recovering the SDH and/or SNDH from the resulting culture. The SDH and SNDH of the present invention are useful enzymes having preferable properties for the production of 2-keto-L-gulonic acid, as well as L-ascorbic acid. According to the production method of the present invention, the SDH and SNDH having such preferable properties can be produced in large amounts by genetic engineering.

Abstract: An expression vector containing both a DNA encoding an L-sorbose dehydrogenase and a DNA encoding an L-sorbosone dehydrogenase; a transformant having an ability to produce 2-keto-L-gulonic acid (hereinafter 2KLGA) at high yields from D-sorbitol, which is prepared by transforming, with said expression vector, a microorganism capable of producing L-sorbose at high yields from D-sorbitol, which has no or low 2KLGA-decomposing activity or a host microorganism having, in addition to the above-mentioned properties, no or low L-idonic acid-producing activity; and a process for producing 2KLGA, which comprises culturing said transformant in a medium containing D-sorbitol. According to the present invention, 2KLGA useful for the production of L-ascorbic acid can be produced with ease and in larger amounts by a single operation of culture.

Abstract: A novel L-sorbose dehydrogenase (SDH) and a novel L-sorbosone dehydrogenase (SNDH) both derived from Gluconobacter oxydans T-100, a DNA which encodes the SDH and/or SNDH, an expression vector which contains the DNA, a host cell transformed by the expression vector and a process for producing the SDH and/or SNDH, which comprises culturing the host cell in a medium and recovering the SDH and/or SNDH from the resulting culture. The SDH and SNDH of the present invention are useful enzymes having preferable properties for the production of 2-keto-L-gulonic acid, as well as L-ascorbic acid. According to the production method of the present invention, the SDH and SNDH having such preferable properties can be produced in large amounts by genetic engineering.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new tissue plasminogen activator which has strong activity for converting plasminogen into plasmin that degrades the fibrin network of blood clots to form soluble products and therefore is useful as a thrombolytic agent. The invention also relates to a DNA sequence encoding the amino acid sequence for the tissue plasminogen activator, to a process for producing the plasminogen activator, and to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the new tissue plasminogen activator.

Abstract: An expression vector containing both a DNA encoding an L-sorbose dehydrogenase and a DNA encoding an L-sorbosone dehydrogenase; a transformant having an ability to produce 2-keto-L-gulonic acid (hereinafter 2KLGA) at high yields from D-sorbitol, which is prepared by transforming, with said expression vector, a microorganism capable of producing L-sorbose at high yields from D-sorbitol, which has no or low 2KLGA-decomposing activity or a host microorganism having, in addition to the above-mentioned properties, no or low L-idonic acid-producing activity; and a process for producing 2KLGA, which comprises culturing said transformant in a medium containing D-sorbitol. According to the present invention, 2KLGA useful for the production of L-ascorbic acid can be produced with ease and in larger amounts by a single operation of culture.

Abstract: A mutant CC acylase wherein at least one amino acid at the Ala.sup.49, Met.sup.164, Ser.sup.166, Met.sup.174, Glu.sup.358, Met.sup.465, Met.sup.506, or Met.sup.750 position of the amino acid sequence of the native CC acylase is replaced by a different amino acid, a DNA coding therefor, an expression vector containing the said DNA, a microorganism transformed with the said expression vector, the production of the CC acylase by culturing the said transformant, and use thereof for the production of a compound. The mutant CC acylase of the invention has desirable properties in terms of enzymatic potency, alteration of pH profile, efficiency of processing, and the like.

Abstract: A novel L-sorbose dehydrogenase (SDH) and a novel L-sorbosone dehydrogenase both derived from Gluconobacter oxydans T-100, a DNA which encodes the SDH and/or SNDH, an expression vector which contains the DNA, a host cell transformed by the expression vector and a process for producing the SDH and/or SNDH, which comprises culturing the host cell in a medium and recovering the SDH and/or SNDH from the resulting culture. The SDH and SNDH of the present invention are useful enzymes having preferable properties for the production of 2-keto-L-gulonic acid, as well as L-ascorbic acid. According to the production method of the present invention, the SDH and SNDH having such preferable properties can be produced in large amounts by genetic engineering.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new tissue plasminogen activator which has strong activity for converting plasminogen into plasmin that degrades the fibrin network of blood clots to form soluble products and therefore is useful as a thrombolytic agent. The invention also relates to a DNA sequence encoding the amino acid sequence for the tissue plasminogen activator, to a process for producing the plasminogen activator, and to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the new tissue plasminogen activator.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a monoclonal antibody (anti-FKBP antibody) which recognizes an antigenic determinant in an FK506-binding protein and does not inhibit the binding between an FK506-binding protein and FK506, a method for assaying an FKBP level in plasma, comprising reacting an immobilized anti-FKBP antibody, an enzyme-labelled FK506 and FKBP in a specimen, and assaying the degree of color development of an enzyme substrate, and a kit for the assay. According to the present invention, the FKBP level in plasma which affects the immunosuppressive action of FK506 can be assayed more precisely with ease, which in turn enables setting the optimal dose of FK506 in close accordance with the condition of individual patients.

Abstract: Monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies capable of recognizing at least one antigenic determinant located on the FR-900506 compound, are disclosed. FR-900506 isa compound having pharmacological activities such as immunosuppressive activity and antimicrobial activity, and has the following structure: ##STR1## Also disclosed are enzyme immunoassays for FR-900506 based on the antibodies of the invention and test kits for detection of FR-900506. A process for preparing a monoclonal antibody which selectively binds to FR-900506 is also disclosed.

Abstract: Two-cistronic Met-IGF-I expression vector, in which the first cistron encodes a protective peptide with a molecular weight of about 500-50,000 and the second cistron encodes IGF-I, was provided. Also provided is a process for preparing Met-IGF-I, which comprises transforming E. coli with said vector and growing the resultant transformant, followed by the lysis of the cell culture and isolation of Met-IGF-I.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a mutant cephalosporin C acylase derived from a precursor of the formula:A.sup.1-268 --X.sup.1 --Tyr--X.sup.2 --A.sup.272-304 --X.sup.3 --A.sup.306-773(SEQ ID NO:1), wherein:A.sup.1-268 is the same amino acid sequence as that from Thr.sup.1 to Gly.sup.268 of native CC acylase,A.sup.272-304 is the same amino acid sequence as that from Gln.sup.272 to Tyr.sup.304 of native CC acylase,A.sup.306-773 is the same amino acid sequence as that from Val.sup.306 to Ala.sup.773 of native CC acylase,X.sup.1 is Met or other amino acid,X.sup.2 is Ala or Tyr, andX.sup.3 is Cys or Ser,provided that when X.sup.1 is Met and X.sup.2 is Ala, X.sup.3 is Ser; and that the mutant cephalosporin C acylase has a property selected from the group consisting of higher enzymatic potency and higher processing efficiency, as compared to native CC acylase.

Abstract: The cysteine-containing polypeptide is oxidized with hydrogen peroxide to produce the biologically active polypeptide having the intramolecular disulfide bridge.

Abstract: IGF-I fused with a protective peptide, in which the protective peptide is a protein peptide and is used for the protection of IGF-I from degradation by protease in cells of E. coli is disclosed. Also disclosed are genes coding for the fused IGF-I's, plasmids containing the genes, and E. coli microorganisms transformed with the plasmids.

Abstract: IGF-I fused with a protective peptide, in which the protective peptide is a protein peptide and is used for the protection of IGF-I from degradation by protease in cells of E. coli is disclosed. Also disclosed are genes coding for the fused IGF-I's, plasmids containing the genes, and E. coli microorganisms transformed with the plasmids.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a .sup.59 Valine insulin-like growth factor I (.sup.59 Val.IGF-I), to a .sup.59 Val-IGF-I fused to a protective peptide, to a gene coding for .sup.59 Val-IGF-I, to a gene coding for fused .sup.59 Val-IGF-I, to a plasmid containing the .sup.59 Val-IGF-I gene, to a host organism containing a plasmid containing the .sup.59 Val-IGF-I gene, to a host organism containing a plasmid containing the fused .sup.59 Val-IGF-I gene, and to processes for the production of these.